All posts by Shirelle Wright

A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves. —Lao Tzu
In order to lead, one must serve. A servant leader is one who puts the needs of others first and helps individuals develop and perform at their highest capability while still achieving the goals set forth by the organization.
Become a servant leader by incorporating the following practices in your leadership style:

Listening: Servant leaders must listen to verbal and non-verbal signs and interpret what others want and support them through decision making.

Empathy: Understand and empathize with others. Consider what the others are feeling, experiencing. Appreciate and respect them.

Healing: The ability to heal your self and others is a powerful force for transformation and integration of relationships.

Awareness: A servant leader must gain general awareness and self-awareness. This helps the leader better understand all situations.

Persuasion: A servant leader doesn’t take advantage of its followers. Instead they convince others, rather than coerce compliance.

Conceptualization: The servant leader must look at a situation or problem above and beyond the scope of day-today realties.

Foresight: A servant leader must have the ability to foresee likely outcomes of situations. Allows the leader to learn from the past and to achieve better in the future.

Stewardship: Commitment to serve the needs of others. Its also emphasizes the use of openness and persuasion rather than control.

Commitment to the growth of people: A servant leader is committed to the personal growth of all individuals within the organization. The leader would nurture personal, professional and spiritual growth from its followers.

Building community: A servant leader identifies means to build a strong community within their organization and with surrounding business/organizations and communities.

Happy New Year loves!
I can’t believe its 2013.
Yesterday was the first Sunday of the New Year. My pastor spoke on building a solid foundation. Every year people go through the “New Year, New Me” phase. But how many of you can say that over the years you’ve become this “new person” you set out to be? Instead of trying to create this new person, set out to just be a “better” you. Build a foundation in Christ and continue to create your legacy.

1 Corinthians 3:11 says “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” We continually attempt to lay other foundations other than Christ and then question why things went wrong. People build lives on sinking sand but Christ should be the foundation.

7 Steps to Being a Better You in Seven 7 days
By: Donald Latumahina
Ask you self..
“Why should you become a Better You?
“What are the benefits of being a Better Me?”
-Happier, More productive, fulfill more dreams, meet new people, etc
“Why in the world would I listen to you about being a Better Me?”
-I am not perfect. I have many flaws. However, daily, I try to be a better person because I know that by doing so I am adding value to my existence and hopefully, to others as well. I am bringing more value to the great gift of life. If there is anyone that can strive to be a better person, it is me.

7 daily steps:
1. Wake up before sunrise. This may be tough for the night owls, but this can be one of the best ways to get in tune with yourself before the chaos hits. Take advantage of being ahead of everyone else and enjoy the coming of the day. This practice will lead to a fresher, more alive you throughout the day if continued. The happier you start your day, the brighter the rest of the day will be.

2. Ask someone if there is anything you can help them with. Try to ask others if there is anything that you can do to make their day better. They will appreciate you more and may inspire them to pay it forward. This action usually leads to self-fulfillment knowing that you have improved the life of another.

3. Get outside and be active. I usually plead the case for getting outside so that more people would be healthier. But, today, I just want to share this action step so that you can get outside and disconnect from the world. By this I mean the digital world. Today, many of us spend all of our day in front of the television or computer screen. The world is vast and incredible and usually it can be experienced just by walking out the front door. Take this opportunity to walk through your town or city and greet all of those you pass. Experience life in the form of nature. Do this for 30 minutes and your mind will be clearer and more alive than when you started.

4. Write down your goals for the next week. Don’t look so far ahead. Enjoy everything that you want to accomplish this week. By writing down your aspirations for one week, you will be more in tune with taking action today instead of procrastinating. Want to simplify your workspace? Write it down along with small daily tasks that will accomplish this goal. Keep it simple and you will achieve great things that will brighten your days to come.

5. Do one thing you love. Love reading? Love running? Love talking? Love relaxing? Love writing? Whatever it is that you love, try doing that for some period of your day. When we experience the things we love, we tend to carry that positive attitude towards the following actions. This will increase your level of enjoyment with life so that you can be better at everything else that you do.

6. Make another person’s day. You would be surprised how much positive impact a small act can have on the person you are kind to along with the impact it has upon yourself. As stated earlier, you can ask someone if they need help. You can also tell them how great they are, write them a secret note (my girlfriend loves finding these in random places), take someone out for a meal, and so on. It doesn’t have to be a big thing. It just should be something that will brighten their day.

7. Learn something new. Have you always wanted to know how to say a few words of Mandarin as well as understand what you were saying? Well, learn that one new thing today. Take this chance to educate yourself about one thing you didn’t know before today and you will be that much brighter. Education should not stop when we leave school. By implementing this daily act, you will be capable of improving your ability to adjust to new and improved aspects of culture.

With these 7 steps you will see the benefits of becoming a better you every day of your life.

I was watching “The First Graduating Class: Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls” last night on OWN. All of their stories touched me deeply. It’s crazy how we try to imitate what we see on TV i.e. Basketball Wives, Love and Hip Hop, etc. I see women saying how they’re trying be a “BOSS” by way of seeking a “baller” to take care of them and “pay” their way to fame.
Watching these young women, grow up over 4 years while attending Oprah’s school inspired me to do more. About 90% of these girls came from townships and/or poverty, conditions I couldn’t imagine living in. They were strong and determined to be successful women individually; not by having men take care of them.

2. Be yourself
a. Stop trying to imitate what you see on TV, walking down the street, etc.
i. Start feeling comfortable in your own skin. Don’t give yourself any reason to feel ashamed or embarrassed. Shame and embarrassment are the biggest obstacles to achieving true individuality. Instead of trying to match current trends (i.e. trying to get into pop/punk music to fit in even if you don’t like it), do things that you enjoy doing.

5. Question everything.
a. Don’t believe everything you read. Use reliable sources. How many different ways can you do things? Don’t necessarily do things how everyone else is doing them. Find a way they that best fits you.

Many people pray only when in need or when times get rough. Your relationship with HIM shouldn’t be only when you want it. Would your loved ones like for you to flip them on and off like a switch? Would you like if someone treated you as such? Probably not. Remember that continual prayer changes things. HE can do things the human mind could never imagine.

“Jesus took time to pray. Finding time to pray is not easy, but prayer is the vital link between God and us. Like Jesus, we must break away from others to talk with God, even if we have to get up very early in the morning to do it”

Building you relationship with Him is an ongoing process that should never be taken for granted. So don’t just flip the communication line with him when you want something, talk to HIM like you would talk to your best friend. Just a reminder, advice should come from HIM not the flesh. So tomorrow and the next day and the next day and the next day after that, when you wake up and are brushing your teeth, taking a shower, eating breakfast, watching the news etc., just take a minute to pray. Thank him for waking you up in the morning and hoping that he will watch over you as the day progresses.

Mark 1:35 (NLT)
“Before daybreak the next morning Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray”

Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

As human beings we go through life with aspirations to be and do things as close to perfect as possible. But through the course of our lives we do tend to screw up things, not once, not twice, probably more times than we want. Failed relationships, physical appearance, bad grades, bad habits, etc. Life Happens. How do you overcome these situations? Do you sulk? Cry all day and night? Blame others? No. The questions you should ask yourself are: How do I bring peace to myself? Can I look past the situation? What will make me happy?

Self Acceptance is the task you need to take on. Be able to accept and embrace who you are, blemishes and all. Seek inner peace. Talk to your higher power.

I look at the women that are engaged in the “natural hair evolution” and I commend them for embracing the beauty they were born with. No matter what their individual “natural hair journey” may be, they have all experienced negative looks and comments from coworkers, family members, spouses, etc. They’ve accepted the choice they’ve made. Self Acceptance. Embrace.

Take on the challenges that really matter. Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. Do you! Be happy! And don’t let what other people think of you block your blessing that you may have pouring in.